Great North Run closing in on Great World Run target

The Great North Run is now just 40 countries away in its bid to become the first running event to boast a participant from every country in the world

The Great North Run’s ambitious mission to host a representative from every country in the world has edged closer to reality, with representatives from 153 nations now recruited for the world’s biggest half-marathon.

The Great World Run initiative was launched earlier this year, with event organisers The Great Run Company seeking a runner from all 193 United Nations member states to take part in the annual spectacular on September 11.

The most recent addition was a runner hailing from the of Caribbean island Dominica, leaving representatives from 40 nations still to be found.

Andorra, Macedonia, Togo, and Tuvalu are among the countries remaining on the wish list, and The Great Run Company are hoping that Athletics Weekly readers can assist in their worldwide search. A full list of the missing nations can be found at greatrun.org/GNRWorldRun.

David Hart, communications director at The Great Run Company, said: “We like a challenge and this one is going to be one of our most ambitious yet, but with the help of AW readers we are confident that we can get there.

“The qualifying criteria is that the individual must have been born in the country they will represent, so many of our runners will already be living in the UK.”

All applicants will be requested to supply proof of their nationality before being accepted into the event, and a dedicated email address – [email protected] – has been set up to handle enquiries from anyone who could be eligible.

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